5 intriguing apps for Windows 10: December 11, 2015

With the ever-growing number of apps and games in the Windows Store, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with what's out there.

For that reason, every Friday we showcase some apps that have piqued our interest. They may have been in the news recently, they may be new to the Windows Store, or they could simply be old apps that we just stumbled upon.

3D Scan

Microsoft's 3D Scan turns your PC into a design studio. With the help of a Kinect sensor for Xbox One, the app will scan any object (or person for that matter) and render it into a three-dimensional model.

The controls are incredibly intuitive. Choose the height, width, and depth of the area you want to scan and whether or not you want to scan for a certain period of time. Then just use your Kinect like you would use a camera.

The images that you create can then be edited using Microsoft's companion app, 3D Builder. You can also print to a local 3D printer or order a print online.

Microsoft is helping to bring once complicated and expensive technology to the average home user. It seems that they could have combined 3D Scan and 3D Build into a single app, but either way, both are free.

Film Closet

Film Closet is third-party client for The Movie DB (TMDB), a popular online resource for all things film and television.

With access to information for over 120,000 movies, Film Closet gives you everything you could ever want to know about them, including synopsis, cast, crew and more. Plus it shows you stills and posters from the movie.

You can also use Film Closet to discover movies by seeing what's playing, what's popular, and what's coming soon.

One of the app's primary features is that it integrates with your own personal movie collection. By scanning your computer or pointing the app to your movies, Film Closet will match them to the data in TMDB.
Film Closet even has its own built-in video player, so you can watch your flicks right there.

The premium version, which is available for $1.99, will remove ads and unlock the ability to download and assign subtitles.

wkcd

If you've spent any significant time on Reddit, or the internet in general, you've doubtless come across one of Randall Munroe's xkcd comics. The stick figure driven cartoon tackles every aspect of human life with humor and insight.

Wkcd is an app devoted to the webcomic, delivering it to you wherever you may be.

The layout is very basic, with a scroll of past cartoons running down the left side and a larger viewing area for whichever one you select making up the rest of it. Xkcd comics are show in chronological order with the newest at the top.

You can filter by unread, all, or comics that you mark as favorites. Unread and favorite ones are synced between your devices, so you never lose track.

The app uses a Live tile to display the latest installment of xkcd. You can also set Wkcd to send a silent notification when a new strip is published.

Figure

Propellerhead Software's Figure is a wildly popular music-making app that comes over from iOS.

It gives you all the tools you need to create and share music on your PC or phone. Using the built-in instrument kits for drums, bass, and lead synth, you can lay down your beats, record them, and set them to loop.

No musical experience is necessary. Playing the instruments is as easy as touching the screen of your device. Figure also lets you edit your songs right from the app.

And when you've created your hit tune, share it with the Propellerhead community, so they can give you tips, or even remix it themselves.

Figure's arrival on Windows 10 for PC and Mobile is good sign for the platform, especially since it isn't even available for Android yet.

Toon Clash CHESS

Toon Clash CHESS takes the age-old board game to a new level with animated cartoon graphics.

With cheerful characters and kid-friendly battles, it's an ideal way to introduce youngsters to chess. There are other great instructional tools as well, like hints (full version only), an undo button, and highlights for possible moves.

But don't let the toons fool you. If you move the difficulty level to medium, you will get a run for your money. And the hard level with challenge even the best of players.

Toon Clash CHESS offers three different boards, along with different camera angles and views. The in-game achievements reward you for your play.

With the free version, you are limited to playing against the computer and have limited "undos."

Avid adult players may find the graphics a bit too juvenile to play regularly, but Toon Clash CHESS is a great fit for family interaction.